Great Reads books are selected each year by Center for the Book affiliates for the National Book Festival. Until 2022, most selections were for children and young adult readers. Since 2022, Centers have been invited to select Great Reads for both youth readers and adult readers.
The following are previous titles chosen by the Arkansas Center for the Book:
- 2023: House Finds a Home, Katy Duffield and US History in 15 Foods, Anna Zeide
- 2022: Beasts of Prey, Ayana Gray and Remote Access: Small Libraries in Arkansas, Don House and Sabine Schmidt
- 2021: Crossings Extraordinary Structures for Extraordinary Animals, Katy S. Duffield
- 2020: Lifestyles of Gods & Monsters, Emily Roberson
- 2019: Buried Lives: The Enslaved People of George Washington’s Mount Vernon, Carla Killough McClafferty
- 2018: March Forward, Girl: From Young Warrior to Little Rock Nine, Melba Pattillo Beals
- 2017: The Secret Keepers, Trenton Lee Stewart
- 2016: Petit Jean: a Wilderness adventure, William B. Jones
- 2015: The Big Ideas of Buster Bickles, Dave Wasson
- 2014: N Is for Natural State: An Arkansas Alphabet, Michael Shoulders
- 2013: Natural State Notables: 21 Famous People from Arkansas, Steven Teske
- 2012: The Extraordinary Education of Nicholas Benedict, Trenton Lee Stewart
- 2011: The Many Faces of George Washington: Remaking a Presidential Icon, Carla Killough McClafferty
- 2010: So Over My Head, Jenny B. Jones
- 2009: Water Steps, A. LaFaye
- 2008: The Mysterious Benedict Society & the Perilous Journey, Trenton Lee Stewart
- 2007: The Mysterious Benedict Society, Trenton Lee Stewart
- 2006: Something Out of Nothing: Marie Curie and Radium, Carla Killough McClafferty
- 2005: A Painted House, John Grisham
- 2004: The Journey of Oliver K. Woodman, Darcy Pattison
- 2003: City of Names, Kevin Brockmeier
- 2002: Summer of My German Soldier, Bette Greene
For more information, contact:
- Karen O’Connell
- Coordinator, Arkansas Center for the Book
- karen.oconnell@ade.arkansas.gov or (501) 682-2874
